Collapsible container.



T. F. TANSEY.

OOLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. a, 1910.

Patented oct. 3, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANncmAm-l co..\v^s|uNGToN. D. c.

TlNTTED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

THOMAS r. '.rANsnv, or NEW YoRK, 1v. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS F. TANsEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New `York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and 1improved Collapsible Container, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a new and improved 'collapsible container, of a type adapted to contain cigarettes or the like.

- An object of this invention is to provide a container which can be made from less material and with less trouble than those now on the market, and which will be simple and strong in construction, and readily accessible.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container which can be collapsed as the articles are used, so that a bulky package need not be carried about when the container has therein only 'one or two of the articles.

These and further objects, together with the construction and combination of parts, will be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the container in its extended form; Eig. 2 is a perspective view showing the container in its completely collapsed form; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the container in its extended form; and Eig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the container is constructed.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts and particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the blank, indicated at 1, consists of a long,n narrow strip of material with the sides 'thereof substantially parallel for the greater length thereof intermediate its ends. At one end, the blank has an enlargement 2, including a plurality of panels 3, 4 and 5, the intermediate one of which, number 4, acts as a bottom for the receptacle when these panels are folded at right-angles to each other along crease lines 6 and '7. Extending transversely of the enlargement 2, there are also provided crease lines 8 and 9, which, taken with incisions 11, 12, 13 and 14, form tabs 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, which Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 8, 1910.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911. serial no. 576,113.

are adapted to extend at right-angles to the panels 3, 4 and 5. The tab 18 is continued by the bodycf the strip 1, and is divided therefrom by a crease line 21. `When the enlargement is folded up along the crease lines, so that the panels 3 and 5 extend at right-angles to the panel 4, and the tabs 15 to 2O extend at right-angles to the panels 3 to 5, the bottom section 22 of the container will be formed. The remainder of the container, which comprises a plurality of superposed sections 22, 23, and 24, is formed by winding' the body portion of the strip 1 in successive spiral sections, the intermediate portion of the strip 1 being folded to form sides corresponding to the panels 3 and 5, and ends corresponding to the tabs 15 and 18, which form the ends of the lowerniost section. Tnasmuch as each succeeding section must be somewhat larger than the preceding section at its lower end so as to be capable of telescoping relative thereto, the strip 1 has diagonal incisions 25, so as to permit the ends of the top portions of the strip adjacent these cuts to lap by each other, thereby allowing a decrease in the periphery of the upper edge of each section. These incisions 25, as will be seen by reference to' Fig. 3, preferably are located at the ends of each section.

It will be noted that the lower edge of the blank 1, at the opposite end from that upon which the enlargement is formed, is cut away as at 26 in a long, sloping diagonal, at the extremity of which is formed a locking tab 27, the lower edge of which is also beveled at 28, to permit of its ready insertion at both ends, into slots 29 and 30, located so that they will come in proper juxtaposition on the top section 24. Adjacent this end of the blank 1, but not at the extremity thereof, there is also formed an enlargement 31, which is divided by means of crease lines 32 and 33, and incisions 34 and 35, into a top 36, a Hap 3l', and tabs 38 and 39, which are adapted to form the cover or closing members of the container.

For the purpose of securing the receptacle closed, there is provided a tie 40, which may be of any suitable character, such as a strip of ribbon, and is inserted in superposed slots 41, located in each section on opposite sides.

The utility of the device will be readily understood when taken in connection with the above description. The receptacle, be-

fore receiving the articles, which it is to carry, is folded up into its completed form, and the sections telescoped one on the other to the smallest form, so that the articles can be deposited in the receptacle gradually, and the receptacle gradually extended as it becomes fuller and fuller. When filled, the receptacle can be secured by the ribbon 40, and may be further secured with the sections -in their extended position, by means of aA gum label 42, which may be in the form of a tax stamp.

When the purchaser has used a number of the articles which the receptacle contains, he may collapse the receptacle into a smaller size, consistent with the space occupied by the contents thereof, so that at Iany time he need not have a receptacle larger than will just hold the number of.

articles which remain therein. This is very convenient, in that it does not necessitate the purchaser carrying about a large package in his clothes when a smaller one would do 'just as well.

While I have shown one embodiment of lmy invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, modifications and alterations which may come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

1. A container comprising a strip of material wound in a spiral manner to form a the -adj acent section.

'3. A container, comprising a strip of material spirally wound to form successive sections, Vsaid strip of material being formed at 1 one end with an enlargement divided by Ycreases and incisions into `panels and tabs, whereby when said panels and tabs are folded at right-angles to each other, t-he lowermost section is formed, and said strip of material being also provided adjacent its opposite end with an enlargement divided by crease lines and incisions into closure-forming members, adapted to form a top for said container.

t. A container, comprising a strip of material spirally wound to form successive sections, said strip of material being formed at one end with an enlargement divided by creases and incisions into panels and tabs, whereby when said panels and tabs are folded at right-angles to each other, the lowermost section is formed, and said strip of material being also provided adjacent its opposite end with an enlargement divided by crease lines and incisions into closureforming members, adapted to form a top for said container, said last-mentioned end. of said strip being also provided with a locking tab, the opposite ends of which are adapted to be inserted in slots formed in the body of said strip.

5. A container, comprising a strip of material wound in a spiral manner to form successive sections, each section telescoping into the next succeeding section, said strip being formed with enlargements adjacent either end, whereby the bottom and top of said container is provided, and means for securing the top end of said strip to the intermediate portion thereof.

6. A container, comprising a plurality of sections telescopically connected together each section being integral with the juxtaposed sections at some point and detached therefrom at other points so as to be movable relative thereto, a bottom secured to one of said sections, and a top secured to another of said sect-ions.

7. A container comprising a single strip of material wound spirally to form a plurality of telescoping sections, and an adhesive label for securing said sections in their extended position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS F. TAN SEY.

Witnesses:

HoRA'rro WHITING, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

vCopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

